Healdsburg

Estate Planning Attorney Serving Healdsburg

Some surprising estate planning statistics from plannedgiving.com include the fact that while about 80% of those over the age of 72 have at least a basic will, less than a quarter of those between the ages of 18 and 34 have a will—or any other type of estate plan. For those who do have a will, remember to communicate with the person you have named executor—only 46% of will executors were even aware of their role! Estate planning is a task that many of us put off as long as possible. Perhaps we don’t want to face our own mortality, are too busy to think about an estate plan, or don’t believe we have sufficient assets to matter.

Nobody wants to think about a time when they will no longer be here or a time when they will be incapacitated and unable to make necessary decisions—yet we will all die and some of us will become incapacitated. The question becomes whether you want to leave your loved ones with a total mess to deal with or you want to ensure that they will be taken care of and your wishes will be followed. While estate planning can seem confusing, when you have an experienced estate planning attorney serving Healdsburg from Gullotta Law Group, the process can be simple, easy, and comfortable.

Why Choose Gullotta Law Group for Your Healdsburg Estate Planning Needs?

When you decide to move forward with an estate plan, you may then be overwhelmed by how many choices there are for an estate planning attorney. Attorney Eric Gullotta is confident that once you have spoken with him regarding your estate plan your choice will be crystal clear. With fifteen years of experience as a CPA, Eric holds a master’s degree in taxation. This means that Eric understands all the tax issues involved in estate planning and probate that others may miss. For those with a large estate, attorney Gullotta will help you reduce or eliminate estate tax so you can pass down the maximum amount of inheritance to your heirs and beneficiaries.

Not only does the Gullotta Law Group provide you with the highly personalized service you deserve, but we believe we can best meet your needs when there is no clock-watching involved. Our unique flat-fee estate planning allows us to craft a comprehensive estate plan for you without worrying about hourly fees. You will never feel rushed in our office, and we constantly strive to accommodate your needs. Further, with every estate plan done by Gullotta Law Group, you will receive a certificate for a free one-hour consultation with your executor or successor trustee. This ensures they are on the right track to administering your estate. Choosing an estate planning attorney serving Healdsburg who is experienced and knowledgeable, means choosing Gullotta Law Group.

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Stories That Speak

Trusted by Our Community, Proven Through Results

Eric and Ashley made our estate planning process easy, providing knowledge, comfort, and humor. They answered all our questions and put us at ease!

- Lisa G.
Eric and his team made the process effortless, providing clear information and ensuring my 91-year-old mother understood every detail. Very pleased with the service!

- Joey G.
Eric Gullotta and his team exceeded expectations, providing thorough, compassionate, and efficient support in revising trust documents. Highly recommended!

- Beverly H.

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Overview of Estate Planning Areas Handled by Gullotta Law Group

When you choose Gullotta Law Group, we will comprehensively assess your level of assets, your age, and your family situation, then listen to your goals and wishes for your estate plan. This allows us to put together the best, most highly personalized estate plan possible on your behalf. We will then review your estate plan periodically to determine whether changes in your life warrant reflecting changes in your estate plan. Some of the documents we will consider for your estate plan include:

Last Will and Testament

While a California will must go through the probate process, what many people do not understand is that if you die with no will or other type of estate plan, your estate must still go through the probate process. The difference is that your assets will be distributed according to California law—possibly to those you would not choose to leave your assets to. A will also allows you to name a guardian for your minor children and without such a designation, the state will choose that guardian.

Trusts

A trust may be the better choice for you as far as distributing your assets and providing for a potential incapacitation. There are many different types of trusts, but the most common is a revocable living trust. A trust has advantages over a will in that your beneficiaries receive the assets you leave them quicker, without the process of probate. A trust is private, while a will is a public document that anyone can access. If you have an adult child with special needs, a Special Needs Trust can allow that individual to continue receiving government benefits while also receiving an inheritance. Talk with your estate planning attorney serving Healdsburg about whether a trust will more closely meet your estate planning needs.

Power of Attorney Documents

A power of attorney (POA) allows you to authorize another person to handle your financial issues or your medical issues. When you give someone a financial power of attorney, that person can make bank deposits, withdrawals, or other transactions, pay your bills, buy or sell property on your behalf, trade stocks and bonds, file your tax returns, negotiate and sign contracts, apply for government benefits, hire people to care for you, and much more—unless the power of attorney document specifically limits the types of financial decisions the agent can make. A medical power of attorney allows your agent to make medical decisions on your behalf in the event you are unable to do so.

Advance Health Care Directive

An advance health care directive tells your doctors, your family, and others your health care preferences, including any type of special treatment you want—or don’t want—at the end of your life. An advance health care directive can also relay your wishes for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and organ donation.

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Rooted in Community, Driven by Integrity

Our Commitment to You

Committed to Giving Back
As active and involved members of the Sonoma community, we are dedicated to making a positive impact, both professionally and personally, for the people we serve.
Always Available for Clients
We believe in making ourselves accessible to clients when they need us most. We are committed to providing responsive support throughout the entire probate process.
Deep Roots in the Community
Born and raised in Sonoma, we are deeply familiar with the local community and its values, allowing us to provide a personalized, compassionate approach to every case.
Expertise in Complex Cases
We have the knowledge and experience to handle even the most complex probate and estate matters, providing expert solutions tailored to your unique situation.

Why Do I Need an Estate Plan?

Virtually every person, regardless of level of assets or age, could benefit from having an estate plan. Many people believe an estate plan is only for the super-wealthy, but this is simply not the truth. Almost everyone has at least some level of assets as well as specific thoughts about who they would want to have those assets after they are gone. Without so much as a simple will, the state of California steps in, using intestate laws to determine who your assets will go to—or who will become the guardian of your minor children. To ensure your wishes supersede those of the state, you need an estate plan that clearly details your wishes for after your death or in the event of your incapacitation.

What Happens if I Die Without an Estate Plan?

When you die without an estate plan, you are said to have died “intestate.” This means that your closest relatives will inherit your assets, regardless of your personal wishes or your relationship with them. If you are married, your half of any community property will automatically go to your surviving spouse. Your separate property includes assets acquired by you before your marriage, or during your marriage through a gift or inheritance and also includes earnings or assets acquired after legal separation. With no will, if you are married, your surviving spouse will inherit 50% of your separate property, while the remaining 50% will be distributed to your children, or—if you have no children—to your parents, siblings, and other relatives according to intestate succession law.

Why Do I Need a Healdsburg Estate Planning Attorney?

Estate planning rarely benefits from a DIY approach. There are simply too many important issues at stake to risk when a simple mistake could void your entire estate plan. Estate planning attorneys have training, experience, and knowledge of the ever-changing laws about estate planning, and do much more than simply preparing a will. Estate planning is much more than document preparation—your estate planning attorney will carefully listen to your goals and wishes, then coordinate your assets and your wishes to your plan to make sure everything passes most efficiently. If you have minor children, proper estate planning is even more important, whether you are considering a guardian, or who will manage your child’s assets until they are of age. Your estate planning attorney serving Healdsburg will help you navigate state-specific estate planning laws, as well as plan for a potential incapacitation or long-term care.

Hiring an Estate Planning Attorney Near Healdsburg to Help You

Estate planning serving Healdsburg does not have to be difficult or uncomfortable. At Gullotta Law Group, we make sure you have the easiest, most comfortable experience possible. We understand that many people put off estate planning for many reasons. We are here to help you through the process, answer all your questions, and leave you with a comprehensive estate plan that meets all your wishes and goals. Our fixed-fee pricing gives you unlimited initial planning time with attorney Eric Gullotta, unlimited phone calls and emails, a follow-up meeting, and support for your successor. Few estate planning attorneys offer the thorough, highly personalized services that Gullotta Law Group provides. Contact us today!